Presidential & Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health – Outreach & Engagement Plan – Phase 3 (PDAD&C#23)

From: Cheryl Regehr, Vice-President & Provost
Date: November 7, 2019
Re: Presidential & Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health – Outreach & Engagement Plan – Phase 3 (PDAD&C#23)

In early September, we asked for your help to promote the Outreach & Engagement activities of the Student Mental Health Task Force. Thank you to everyone who participated. We truly appreciate your feedback.

What has happened so far?

To support their work and engage the University of Toronto community, the Presidential & Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health embarked on an extensive consultation plan in July 2019. Phases 1 and 2 of the Outreach & Engagement Plan involved in-person focus groups and open campus listening sessions; an online feedback form; and student-led Innovation Hub feedback events. In addition to this, the Task Force visited the three campus health centres.

What’s next?

“This is what we heard: Did we miss anything?”

Phase 3 of the Outreach & Engagement plan involves sharing a summary of broad themes back to the University community. The Task Force has posted a Draft Summary of Themes and invites all members of the University community to review it and provide feedback.

There are two ways to participate and share feedback on the summary of themes:

  1. Online form is open November 7 – November 25, 2019
  2. Pop-up events on all three campuses during the week of November 11-15 (see details below)

Community members are also welcome to submit written submissions to studentmentalhealth@utoronto.ca. The final version of the themes will be shared on the Provost’s website as the Task Force begins preparing its report for the President and Provost in December 2019.

Phase 3: In-Person Pop-up events

The Task Force is happy to partner once again with the Innovation Hub at U of T to run student-led feedback events. These Pop-up events will be held across the three campuses during the week of November 11-15. No registration is required; the events will take place in open, high-traffic spaces. Students, staff, and faculty members are invited to stop by at any point during the pop-up event to offer feedback and participate in related activities.

Details are available on the Task Force’s page, please mark your calendars:

Campus Date Time Location
St. George Pop-up event #1 Mon. Nov. 11 2:00pm – 5:00pm Bahen Centre Lobby
St. George Pop-up event #2 Tues. Nov. 12 11:00am – 2:00pm Sid Smith Lobby
St. George Pop-up event #3 Wed. Nov. 13 11:00am- 2:00pm Medical Sciences Building (MSB) Stone Lobby
UTM Pop-up event Thurs. Nov. 14 11:00am – 2:00pm Communication Culture & Technology (CCT) Atrium
UTSC Pop-up event Fri. Nov. 15 2:00pm – 5:00pm Student Centre near SCSU office

How can you help?

I would appreciate your continued support in promoting these opportunities for students, faculty, and staff in your local units to get involved in the work of the Task Force.

I also ask that you share the Slides (PPTX version 4:3; PPTX 16:9) with faculty members in your unit and request that the slides be up in their classes during November to engage our students in this process.

Key points for faculty members:

You can find the Terms of Reference and more information about the Task Force, including membership, the Outreach & Engagement Plan, and a link to the Online Consultation Form on the Provost’s website. Questions may be directed to Cheryl Gibbs, Assistant Director, Office of the Vice-Provost, Students, who is providing support to the Task Force, at studentmentalhealth@utoronto.ca.

Thank you in advance for your continued support.

Resources & Supports

Feeling distressed? Find someone to talk to right now – and if there is an immediate risk, call 911.

The following are some of the mental health services available to students on all three campuses:

Round-the-clock support

Free 24/7 support is available outside the University. Students, staff and faculty can speak to a trained crisis worker at any hour of the day.

Good 2 Talk Student Helpline 1-866-925-5454. Professional counselling, information and referrals for mental health, addictions, and well-being.

Gerstein Crisis Centre 416-929-5200 

Distress Centres of Greater Toronto 416-408-HELP (4357)

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at 250 College Street

Anishnawbe Health Toronto Mental Health Crisis Line 416-360-0486

My SSP for U of T Students 1-844-451-9700. Immediate counselling support is available in 35 languages and ongoing support in 146 languages.

Appointed faculty and staff have access to the Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP), offered through Homewood Health, online and by phone at 1-800-663-1142.